Roadway
Safety Audits

Roadway Safety Audits

Roadway Safety Audits (RSAs) are a proactive approach to improving pedestrian safety along selected corridors in Polk County. These audits involve a team of transportation professionals, planners, and sometimes community members, who conduct on-site walking assessments to carefully observe and document potential hazards for pedestrians. Common issues identified during these audits include missing sidewalks, sidewalks that do not connect to key destinations, insufficient crosswalks, poor signage, and inadequate lighting. The goal of the RSA process is to pinpoint both obvious and subtle factors that could increase the risk of accidents or deter people from walking in the area.

Once the audit is complete, all findings are compiled into a comprehensive report. This report highlights the observed safety concerns and recommends potential improvements, such as constructing new sidewalks, repairing existing walkways, enhancing street crossings, or adding traffic calming measures. These recommendations can then be used by local governments, transportation agencies, and other stakeholders to prioritize and implement changes that enhance pedestrian safety and accessibility.

If you are interested in learning more about the specific conditions identified during a Roadway Safety Audit or wish to review the findings for a particular corridor, you can request copies of the audit reports by contacting the Polk Transportation Planning Organization (TPO).